Lin Chen narrowed his eyes and looked at Zhao Mang.
He knew Zhao Mang well.
This man was a notorious playboy of the Zhao Family, with poor talent. After cultivating for over a decade and exhausting his potential with the family’s resources, he had only reached the 5th stage Spirit Realm.
The Zhao Family never expected him to handle any family affairs.
Thus, he spent his days indulging in luxury and pleasure, often frequenting places of debauchery like brothels. Someone like him would never normally appear in the Marketplace.
Yet now, he stood here before Lin Chen, even bringing along two gray-clothed guards, both at the 5th stage Spirit Realm.
Clearly, he had come looking for trouble.
As expected, Zhao Mang had deliberately investigated Lin Chen’s movements. Now, he walked up to him, sizing him up from head to toe, his eyes filled with disdain as he said, “Young Master Lin, I heard you bought a cauldron and a bunch of herbs from the Pill Pavilion. What, planning to become Luoyun City’s number one alchemist?”
His voice was grating.
Lin Chen casually scratched his ear, a hint of cold ruthlessness flashing in his eyes as he replied, “Is my business something a useless playboy like you is qualified to ask about?”
At once, Zhao Mang’s expression darkened.
Rage surged up instantly.
The words “useless playboy” struck directly at his sore spot.
Especially now that a crowd had gathered around them, with countless eyes watching, Zhao Mang felt his face burn with humiliation.
Immediately, he shouted angrily, “Do you still think you’re that genius with a heavenly-grade spiritual root? Right now, you’re not even as good as trash! Trash!”
“Trash?” Lin Chen let out a cold laugh, “Zhao Mang, you’ve cultivated for twelve years, relied entirely on family resources, even knelt in the Clan Hall swearing oaths just to obtain a single Breakthrough Pill, and only then managed to reach the 5th stage Spirit Realm. Tell me, who is the real trash?”
“You… you’re talking nonsense!”
Exposed in front of everyone, Zhao Mang’s face turned red like pig liver, veins bulging across his forehead.
It was true. He had cultivated for years, and the Zhao Family had spent over a hundred Spirit Gathering Pills just to help him break through.
But his talent was mediocre. It was only last year that he barely reached the 5th stage Spirit Realm, long since left behind by his peers.
Back when Lin Chen was known as the number one genius of Luoyun City with a heavenly-grade spiritual root, Zhao Mang had always been jealous and resentful. Relying on his status as Zhao Wanling’s elder brother, he constantly treated Lin Chen with hostility.
Now that Lin Chen had lost his spiritual root and Zhao Wanling had abandoned him, Zhao Mang finally seized the opportunity to step forward.
This time, he would humiliate Lin Chen thoroughly.
He would humiliate this so-called number one genius until he wished he were dead.
And Lin Chen?
He had no intention of sparing Zhao Mang either.
Ever since Zhao Wanling joined forces with Li Qingyun of the Li Family in Leizhou to seize Lin Chen’s spiritual root, the Lin and Zhao Families had already fallen out completely.
On the day Lin Chen was rescued, his father, Lin Zhan, had fought through his injuries and charged into the Zhao Family to demand justice. Get faster updates on g.com.
Lin Zhan fought with his life on the line, forcing Zhao Family Patriarch Zhao Ruiming to retreat repeatedly.
If not for the internal opposition within the Lin Family, led by Lin Xu, the two families would have already gone to full-scale war.
Now, as Lin Chen faced Zhao Mang, it was like enemies meeting face to face, killing intent surging.
If not for the Marketplace’s prohibition on fighting and killing within Luoyun City, he would have already killed Zhao Mang on the spot.
Lin Chen showed no mercy as he sneered, “You swallowed over a hundred Spirit Gathering Pills just to end up looking like a fat pig. What right do you have to call anyone trash?”
The crowd burst into laughter.
Zhao Mang’s face grew darker and darker. Pointing at Lin Chen, his voice became sharper and more shrill, “So what? My sister Wanling is now a disciple of the Dragon Spring Academy, accepted under Elder Huixin!”
A commotion immediately broke out among the onlookers, their faces filled with envy.
“Zhao Wanling actually entered Dragon Spring Academy?”
“Wasn’t there only one slot from Luoyun City this year?”
“Isn’t it obvious? That spot originally belonged to Lin Chen. Now that he’s crippled, it naturally went to Zhao Wanling!”
Luoyun City was merely a small border city of Leizhou.
Meanwhile, Dragon Spring Academy was one of the three great academies of Leizhou.
Within it were countless powerful figures and gathered geniuses from all cities across Leizhou.
Entering Dragon Spring Academy was equivalent to stepping into the ranks of the strong.
If nothing unexpected happened, when Zhao Wanling returned after completing her studies, she would undoubtedly become the strongest in Luoyun City.
Hearing Zhao Wanling’s news, Lin Chen’s killing intent intensified. His eyes, like those of a demon from hell, fixed on Zhao Mang as he said coldly, “Tell her to wash her neck clean and wait for me in Dragon Spring Academy… wait for death to arrive.”
Zhao Mang was startled by that gaze.
However, the envious murmurs around him quickly pulled him back to reality.
He enjoyed those looks. Raising his chin proudly, his tone full of arrogance, he said, “Trash, do you know? My sister is highly favored by Elder Huixin. She was not only given a high-grade Profound-tier technique but has already reached the 3rd stage Spirit Master Realm!”
“That’s a level only the number one genius of Luoyun City could reach. Oh right, I forgot, you’re already a cripple.”
“Forget Dragon Spring Academy. Even if you tried working as a servant at the martial hall in the west of the city, they’d still think you’re useless without a spiritual root.”
“So the one who should be waiting for death… is you!”
Zhao Mang’s words came one after another like soul-piercing blades, aiming to stab straight into Lin Chen’s heart.
Every piece of information about Zhao Wanling carved itself deeply into his mind.
Zhao Wanling… high-grade Profound-tier technique… 3rd stage Spirit Master Realm…
Lin Chen thought silently.
It seemed Zhao Wanling had gained tremendous benefits from Li Qingyun of the Li Family in Leizhou. Otherwise, she would not have broken through to the 3rd stage Spirit Master Realm so quickly.
Where was his heavenly-grade spiritual root now? With Zhao Wanling? With Li Qingyun? Or taken away by that mysterious figure?
No matter who it was…
Zhao Wanling, Li Qingyun, and that mysterious figure…
All of them had to die.
Lin Chen’s resolve for revenge was absolute.
He stepped forward, walking toward Zhao Mang one step at a time. Each footstep struck the stone pavement with a dull, echoing sound.
Zhao Mang had never expected that Lin Chen, a cripple, would dare approach him.
When he met Lin Chen’s icy gaze, he seemed to see a shadow of the former number one genius of Luoyun City.
No… even more terrifying than before.
A chill ran through Zhao Mang’s heart. He quickly shook his head, trying to dispel the thought.
Yet Lin Chen had already reached him, those calm yet murderous eyes locking onto him.
Lin Chen raised his hand and casually adjusted Zhao Mang’s crooked collar.
Zhao Mang clearly knew Lin Chen was supposed to be a cripple.
Yet at this moment, his entire body stiffened uncontrollably, unable to move.
At the same time, Lin Chen’s calm voice sounded like it came from the depths of hell, each word drilling into Zhao Mang’s ears.
“Zhao Mang, listen carefully. Tell that woman Zhao Wanling that everything she took from me… I will make her repay it a hundredfold, a thousandfold, ten thousandfold.”
“Your Zhao Family will be buried with her.”
“And you… won’t escape either.”
Lin Chen did not conceal his intentions at all. It was a naked threat.
From the moment Zhao Wanling betrayed him and stripped away his heavenly-grade spiritual root, Lin Chen and the Zhao Family had become enemies who would fight to the death.
A life-and-death battle was only a matter of time.
Zhao Mang was nearly terrified out of his wits by Lin Chen’s cold gaze and deadly threat.
But gritting his teeth, he forced himself to regain composure. A vicious glint flashed in his eyes as he snarled, “Lin Chen, today, I’ll make you taste what it means to wish you were dead!”